There are many ways for households to recycle in New Jersey. The primary way to recycle is through your municipal curbside recycling collection (the collection of recyclable materials picked up from the curb outside your home), run by either the county or the town where you live.

Recycling plays a valuable role in the waste management hierarchy.

Reducing the amount and/or toxicity of waste at its source. Source Reduction

ReuseUsing materials in the same function for which they were originally produced. Examples: washing silverware instead of throwing away plastic utensils or donating clothes to charity.

RecyclingProcessing a material so that it may be used again as a raw material for a product, which may or may nor be similar to the original product. Example: recycling plastic bottles into new bottles or plastic lumber.

IncinerationBurning waste creates energy and reduces the volume of waste. May produce harmful side effects such as air pollution and ash that must also be disposed of.

LandfillingSandwiching materials between layers of soil and other barriers to prevent contaminants from leaking into groundwater or being discharged into the air.

Most Common Curbside Recycling

While all curbside programs differ, the most commonly included materials are “The Big Five:”

Aluminum

Glass

Paper

Plastic

Steel

Single Stream Residential Recycling

(Curbside pickup only! This program does not apply to Department of Public Works Recycling Depot or to non residential recycling programs.)

Also known as “fully commingled” or "single-sort" or “zero sort”, single stream refers to a system in which all recyclables can be placed in one recycle container and mixed together in a one collection truck.

Please note: Morris County and Denville will be instituting single stream recycling late summer 2011. Labeling will aid in identification of material contents but material will be placed in single collection vehicle.

A. Denville has over 5000 households. Your bin must be at the curb by 7 am on your normal collection day. Collection begins at 7:00 am and may into late afternoon. Please be patient if the drivers drive past your home. Collection often occurs at different times for each side of the street. If you are missed, contact Denville DPW and we will address the situation. If you are calling after business hours, leave a message and your request will be processed the next business day.

Q. I seem to be the only one on my street that recycles. How can I encourage my neighbors to recycle?

A. All homes eligible for curbside recycling service, Township of Denville encourages all residents to comply with the law. Recycling of proper material reduces the trash that must go to landfill – thereby saving all residents both money and resources.

Denville sends annual mailing of the Curbside Recycling Program Schedule. Several additions of the Denville Hub Times publish the curbside schedule. There is link on web site via street drop down listing.

One of the challenges for recycling is getting in the habit of throwing a recyclable in the recycle bin instead of the trash can. Be sure to ask yourself before you throw anything away "can this be recycled"? Pass the word to your neighbor that all residents save on taxes the more we recycle.

A. Presently, Township of Denville residential recycling provider accept plastic bottles with a number 1,2,4,5,7 inside a recycling symbol on the bottom. All plastic containers (shapes, sizes) with number 1,2,4,5.7 are acceptable. Examples of these plastics include soda bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and laundry detergent bottles. See single stream recycling Flyer ..... Single Stream Flyer

See following link for description of types of plastics and their most common uses.

Q. Can I recycle shredded paper with my other curbside recycling items?

A. As consumers become more concerned with the security of personal information, including social security numbers, financial information and account numbers, greater numbers of people are investing in personal or home shredders to reduce the risk of trashed or recycled documents being used by criminals against them.